Why Matt Ritchie’s flair has been vital to Bournemouth

A 5-1 mauling of Fulham sent Bournemouth back to the summit of the Championship table, and they stayed there after rivals Watford, Derby County and Middlesbrough all dropped points on the same weekend.

It means that all four clubs are level on points, with the Cherries remaining top due to their significantly better goal difference.

One player that has been crucial to their promotion push has been winger Matt Ritchie, who has enjoyed some fantastic form throughout the season.

He has injected a great deal of flair to this Bournemouth side and epitomises Eddie Howe’s fast-paced, entertaining style.

Ritchie is the Championship's leading assister with 12 assists to his name whilst his brace at Craven Cottage took him into double figures for goals too.

The winger has now scored 11 times in the Championship as his two long-range strikes put the game beyond Fulham.

The secret behind Ritchie’s success has been his risky approach. The 25-year-old is most definitely not afraid to shoot, having attempted 124 shots this season already, a tally only beaten by the league’s top scorer Daryl Murphy.

He is always looking to make something happen when he picks up the ball, which is a nightmare for defences and his lethal left foot is proving to be a real force in the second tier of English football.